This green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish that everyone loves! Tender green beans, a creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions make this green bean casserole a classic side dish.
Looking for more Thanksgiving side dishes? Don’t miss my creamy mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Table of Contents
Green Bean Casserole with Cheese
For many families, Thanksgiving dinner just wouldn’t feel complete without the ultimate classic side dish – green bean casserole. This creamy, comforting casserole has graced holiday tables for decades, and for good reason.
Green bean casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish and tastes amazing served alongside an oven roasted turkey or baked ham.
Recipe Ingredients
This is the best green bean casserole recipe! Each ingredient is simple and when put together creates a great side dish.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken broth: Cook the green beans in a large pot with broth to give it an extra added flavor.
- Green beans: I used fresh cut green beans that were trimmed to 2-inches.
- Butter: Salted butter works well with this recipe.
- Onions & garlic: Chopped up and added to the casserole dish for flavor..
- Cream of mushroom: Not everyone loves canned goods but this cream of mushroom is perfect for the casserole dish. Adds in a creaminess plus flavor!
- French fired onions: These are cooked onions that have flavor on them. They are crispy and delicious!
- Cheddar cheese: Grate your cheddar cheese or purchase a pre-made bag of cheddar cheese.
How to Make Green Bean Casserole
Easy green bean casserole is always a family favorite in our house! This casserole is great to make ahead and prepare for special occasions along with candied yams. Fresh green beans makes this casserole amazingly delicious!
- Simmer. Heat the chicken broth in a skillet over medium-heat. Add the green beans and let simmer for 7 minutes. Then drain.
- Mix. Push green beans to one side of skillet. Add butter and chopped onions and cook for 3 minutes. Then stir in garlic and cook an additional 1-2 minutes. Add the cream of mushroom soup and let simmer a minute or two. Salt and pepper, to taste. Top with 1/2 of the fried onions. Then pour into a buttered 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
- Bake. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 15 minutes. Stir and then add the remaining cheese and fried onions to the top. Bake an additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly.
Crockpot Version
Want to save room in the oven? Make this easy crockpot green bean casserole. Just dump the ingredients in and then set it and forget it. It doesn’t get any easier!
Make-Ahead Instructions
If you want to prepare the casserole the night before, simply pour the prepared mixture into the casserole dish (leave out the fried onions and cheese) and cover with foil. Then when ready to bake, add the fried onions and cheese on top and bake according to instructions.
Cooking Tips + Variations
Here are some cooking tips that will help perfect your green bean casserole dish. Follow these extra guidelines to help make this casserole dish the best!
- Double the recipe if using a 9×13″ pan.
- I like to steam my fresh green beans in chicken broth (instead of water) to add a little more depth of flavor.
- Feel free to add in 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms while cooking the onions.
- You can use a homemade cream of mushroom soup if you’d prefer to make it from scratch.
- Feel free to omit the cheese on top if you prefer it plain.
- If the onions start to get too crispy when baking, you can cover the dish with foil.
Recipe FAQs
Canned green beans can become mushy in the casserole. Fresh green beans give the casserole a fresh and flavorful texture.
If you feel that your green bean mixture is a little runny, you can add in thickener like flour or cornstarch.
Absolutely! Assemble the casserole but leave the french onion topping off. Cover with aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator overnight.
Yes! The oven will thicken this classic holiday side dish!
Storage + Reheating
To store: If you have leftovers, simply cover and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat: I recommend reheating any leftovers in the oven so that the fried onions stay crispy. Just place the casserole in the oven at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it’s warm throughout. You can cover with foil if the fried onions start to brown too fast.
5 star review
“Made this recipe and served it as a side dish for our roasted chicken. Dinner was wonderful, my husband and kids loved it! The butter and cheese made it so creamy and delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe!“
– Natasha
More Thanksgiving side dish recipes we love include these bacon wrapped green bean bundles, corn casserole and sweet potato casserole with marshmallows!
More Thanksgiving Side Dishes
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Green Bean Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ounce can chicken broth
- 4 cups green beans , trimmed to 2-inch pieces
- 3 Tablespoons butter , I used salted
- ½ cup finely chopped onions
- 1-2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 10 ounce can cream of mushroom
- 1-2 cups french fried onions , more as desired
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese , more if desired
S&P, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.
- Heat the chicken broth in a skillet over medium-heat. Add the green beans and simmer for 7 minutes. You can also use water if preferred (the chicken broth just adds another depth of flavor). Drain extra liquid.
- Push the green beans to one side of the skillet. Add butter and chopped onions. Cook for 3 minutes. Then stir in garlic and cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup and let simmer a minute or two. Salt and pepper, to taste. Top with 1/2 cup of the fried onions. Pour mixture into the casserole dish.
- Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Stir and then add the remaining fried onions and cheese to the top. Bake an additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Christmas, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
I Love this recipe!! Can’t wait to make it tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner. So good!
I made this green bean casserole for a work luncheon and it was a big hit! Came out so delicious.
I make this every year! One of my favorite thanksgiving sides.
Ok, this was seriously delicious! Easy to make and with all the cheese, even my 6-year-old ate it. Thank you for a great recipe!
Ah, I’m so glad to hear! Thanks for your review Elena!
I made this last night to practice for Thanksgiving. It turned out delicious! Everyone loved it! I will definitely be making this as a side dish for Thanksgiving! :)
can you use something besides cream of mushroom soup?
You could do cream of chicken soup or make a homemade version of the cream of mushroom!
Made this recipe and served it as a side dish for our roasted chicken. Dinner was wonderful, my husband and kids loved it! The butter and cheese made it so creamy and delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
This is one of my hubby’s favorite recipes! He’ll be so excited to have this soon! Can’t wait to make this!
I love how cheesy this recipe is! It makes regular old green beans seem really special!